§ Mr. Amessasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what information he has as to the comparative 379W productivity of foreign-owned firms operating in the United Kingdom and British firms over the past five years; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. ButcherThe table compares the value added per employee in United Kingdom manufacturing industry by United Kingdom and foreign owned enterprises for 1981 and 1983. Data are available only for every second year, the most recent being 1983. The apparent significant difference between the productivity of United Kingdom and foreign firms may, at least in part, be explained by the disproportionate presence of foreign owned firms in high value added sectors of the economy.
Gross value added per employee by United Kingdom and foreign owned enterprises in the United Kingdom manufacturing industry 1981 1983 £ £ United Kingdom owned enterprises 9,631 12,323 Foreign owned enterprises 12,355 16,626 Source: Annual Censuses of Production.